Tricky Dick & The Kiss-Singers
National Security Blues
1974 · Bastard BS 1984 · USA
- Artist
- Tricky Dick & The Kiss-Singers
- Title
- National Security Blues
- Release
- National Security Blues / Song of the Land
- Year
- 1974
- Label
- Bastard # BS 1984
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- English
- Country
- USA
- Songwriter
- Lynder, Nakkim
- Genre
- Rock · Blues Rock · Novelty
- Primary theme
- Peace, Protest & Anti-War
Annotation
Bastard Records BS1984: "Any similarity to persons or places living or dead is purely coincidental". Anti-Nixon / Watergate novelty - reference to arresting Vietnam War demonstrators. B-side patriotic protest.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Annotation — Ellsberg & Pentagon Papers Songs
Obscure blues rock novelty group, as seen with the title of the band - Tricky Dick & The Kiss-Singers - of course named after President Richard Nixon, and his National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger. They released the song "National Security Blues", which addressed the issue of wire-taping citizens under the pretence of "national security". Note the record label was called "Bastard Records" and the catalogue number was "BS" ("bullshit") and "1984" - as in the George Orwell's dystopian social science fiction novel. Also printed on the record was "any similarity to persons or places living or dead is purely coincidental". The song writing is credited to Olof Linder. The lyrics note that Nixon was "raiding doctor's offices" - a clear reference to the break-in of Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrist's office on 03 September 1971, in an attempt to find evidence to discredit him.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Lyrics
English: We're down in San Clemente, across the Key Biscayne, there lived a little bugger / Tricky Dick by name / He liked to run the country from his fancy homes / He kept in touch with people / Tapping there phones / Arresting war protesters like you and me / And watching out for national security... He ran the secret service again the wall / Soon he then tape recording every folk... / Raiding doctor's offices... / Watching out for national security...
Notes
Bastard Records BS1984a; "National Security Blues" (Lÿnder – Nakkim), time 2:42, intro :07; ℗ 1974 by Olof Linder; disclaimer "Any similarity to persons or places living or dead is purely coincidental". Gold label with gothic-script logo. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Themes
Nixon · Watergate · Demonstration · Anti-War · Daniel Ellsberg · Pentagon Papers
In collections
Ellsberg & Pentagon Papers Songs · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]